- Determine the size of your keyboard. Unless you have a full-size keyboard, you will probably have a keyboard that is based around the middle-C position on a piano, with one or two octaves above or below. Your manual should tell you this information. Some keyboards come with color-coded stickers to help you identify notes and some even have the note names painted above the keys. You can purchase an easy keyboard kit from most music stores that includes colored or numbered stickers you can use, along with an accompanying booklet.
- Practice setting and using various rhythms you can use to play along with. Most electronic keyboards come with several musical rhythms that include soft rock, fast rock and waltz. To select and change rhythms, find the list of rhythms on your keyboard. You'll see a number beside each rhythm. Punch the number into the number pad on your keyboard to select a rhythm. Change the tempo (speed) of your rhythm with a slider bar marked "tempo," then play your keyboard along with it.
- Most keyboards feature recorded music backing tracks that match the rhythms. These tracks are composed of instrument sounds from the keyboard itself. These tracks are ideal to use as backing tracks while you play melodies. Some keyboards have a one-touch chord fingering system. When you activate this system, you can play full chords with your left hand by simply touching a single key. This is a good feature for beginners who simply want to learn to play for fun.
- With an electronic keyboard, you can digitally reproduce a variety of instruments. The instruments are printed on your keyboard with corresponding numbers. Select the number of the instrument you want to use. You can then play a song on your keyboard with the sound of another instrument. Typical instrument sounds include flute, violin, guitar, bass and many others.
Learning the Keyboard
Learning Rhythm Features
Recorded Tracks and One-Touch Chords
Digital Instruments
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